Tuesday, November 10, 2015

"Altar Call" exposed

1 Timothy 4:2-6 "...God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time."

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

I have recently heard a Baptist give his "salvation" testimony and tell stories of other people's conversions. His testimony was that he "kneeled down" and "asked the Lord to save him".

I have heard other Baptists talk about how they took a person and went through some Bible verses with them and asked "Do you understand what the Bible says about salvation?" and when the person says "Yes" then the Baptist will say "Okay, then kneel down right here and ask the Lord to save you."

I have a Baptist "gospel" tract in my hand that says "Wherever you are this minute, bow your head and pray this simple prayer..."

Last Christmas I went to a Southern Baptist church to a Christmas play and after the service was over the preacher gave the "altar call" and told people if they wanted to be saved then to come down front to the altar and let one of the church members show them how to be saved.....nobody came down to the "altar". The preacher asked again for all those that were not saved to come down and let someone show them how to be saved....still nobody came. Then finally he got angry and said "Jesus said that if you will not confess Him before men, then He is not going to confess you before the Father." THEN people started going down to the "altar" and letting people lead them through the so called "sinner's prayer".

Here is what this stuff looks like.....bowing down towards the Baptist preacher, butts facing the audience, confessing before men.

PROBLEMS WITH THIS

Number one: God does not hear the prayers of a lost sinner.

"Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth." (John 9:31)

"Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:" (Prov. 1:28)

"The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous." (Prov. 15:29)"He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination." (Prov. 28:9)

"The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. The face of the LORD is against them that do evil,
to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. The righteous cry,
and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles." (Ps. 34:15-17)"For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open
unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do
evil." (1 Pet. 3:12)

"Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who
are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world
may become guilty before God." (Rom. 3:19)

"But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all
men, And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what
was in man." (John 2:24-25)

"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the
kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in
heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have
we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils?
and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." (Matt. 7:21-23)

Number two: Prayer is not how we were told to receive Christ and be saved, we were told to believe on Christ trusting His death, burial, and resurrection.

John 1:11-13 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But
as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of
God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of
blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

John 3:[14] And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:[15] That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.[16]
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.[17] For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.[18]
He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is
condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only
begotten Son of God.

John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that
believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth
on him.

John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth
on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into
condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

John 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me
shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

John 6:39-40 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of
all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up
again at the last day. And this is the will of him that
sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may
have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

John 6:47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

John 7:[38] He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.[39]
(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should
receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was
not yet glorified.)

John 8:24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

John 11:[25] Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:[26] And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

John 12:36 While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.

John 12:46 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.

John 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

Acts 10:43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.

Acts 13:38-39 Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

Acts 15:[7] And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and
said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God
made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word
of the gospel, and believe.[8] And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;[9] And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

Acts 16:[30] And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?[31] And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

Mark 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

Romans 1:[16] For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the
power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew
first, and also to the Greek.[17] For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Romans 3:[21] But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;[22]
Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto
all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:[23] For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;[24] Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:[25]
Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his
blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are
past, through the forbearance of God;[26] To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.[27] Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.

Romans 4:[1] What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?[2] For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.[3] For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.[4] Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.[5] But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.[6] Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,[7] Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.

Romans 4:23-5:1[23] Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;[24] But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;[25] Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.[1] Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

Romans 10:3-4 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going
about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted
themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

1 Corinthians 1:[17] For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel:
not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of
none effect.[18] For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.[19] For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.[20]
Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this
world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?[21]
For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God,
it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that
believe.

1 Corinthians 2:[1] And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.[2] For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

1 Corinthians 15:[1] Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I
preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;[2] By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.[3]
For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how
that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;[4] And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: Galatians 2:[16] Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law,
but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus
Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by
the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be
justified.[17] But if, while we seek to be justified by
Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the
minister of sin? God forbid.[18] For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.[19] For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.[20]
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ
liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the
faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.[21] I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

Galatians 3:[1] O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should
not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently
set forth, crucified among you?[2] This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?[3] Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?[4] Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.[5]
He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles
among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of
faith?[6] Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.

Galatians 3:14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus
Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Ephesians 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the
gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were
sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

Philippians 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the
law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness
which is of God by faith:

1 John 5:4-5 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

Number three: Audible prayer is a work, kneeling is a work, bowing your head is a work, closing your eyes is a work, and requiring people to "confess before men" means that Jesus Christ is not the only Mediator between God and men. Also, "altars" were part of the Law and they were to sacrifice animals on--no Baptist Church has a real "altar". All they have is a dumb platform that has no significant purpose that does not mean anything to God .

Prayer is a work....

Colossians 4:12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always
labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and
complete in all the will of God.

Romans 15:30 Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for
the love of the Spirit, that yestrive together with me in your prayers to God for me;

We are not saved by works of any kind (Eph. 2:8-9, Titus 3:4-7, 2 Tim. 1:9, Rom. 3:27, 4:1-5, 10:1-4, Phil. 3:1-9, etc.).

When Christ said "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven." (Matt. 10:32-33) He was talking to SAVED apostles and the context is Daniel's 70th Week and the Second Coming of Christ (10:23) and Matthew 10 is ONLY speaking to the Jews under the Gospel of the Kingdom (10:5-7). The Baptists that quote Matthew 10 do not even follow it themselves, for Jesus said "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves" (10:8-10). The Baptists do not do any of those things!

I don't think you actually responded to any of the points I made or gave a defense of the so called "altar" call.

I don't think I "omitted" Romans 10:9-10, I have many posts on that passage. See herehttps://av1611studyblog.blogspot.com/p/sinners-prayer-false-gospel.html

Also, you say Romans 10:9-10 "gives a clear understanding of what believing means". Where? I don't see where Romans 10 defines the word believe. If you want passages that define the word "believe" you should look at Ephesians 1:13 and Romans 3:26-27 which use words like "trust" and "faith" synonymous with "believe". To believe on someone is to put trust or confidence in them. To rely on.

As for James 2:19, it does obviously teach that works are required to maintain salvation. But I don't really care what the book of James says since it was not written to Gentiles in the present dispensation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PXM96YfOLQ&index=17&list=PLvWuGe0XENWu1-O40yHHqdxIguqCkz2A1

Lastly, you say that according to my doctrine (which isn't "mine") the devils are saved. That is retarded BS. I believe that a person gets saved by putting their faith in Christ believing that He died for their sins, was buried, and rose again the third day. That is not what James 2:19 says. It mentions believing in one God (like muslims and Jews, and yes devils). I don't know anyone that believes you get saved by believing in one God. That is your purposeful misrepresentation, because I obviously I didn't say that.